Skip to main content
Log in

Simultaneous femoral and tibial lengthening for limb length discrepancies

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Archives of orthopaedic and traumatic surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Simultaneous lengthening of the femur and tibia can be effectively and safely accomplished. However, the following issues must be kept in perspective: (1) patient selection is essential, and (2) meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of the operative procedure is vital. The advantages of performing such an ambitious operation include: (1) reduced morbidity, (2) reduced number of operations (not procedures), and (3) more rapid recovery when compared to performing the operations sequentially. This kind of program should be carried out only by those experienced in the limb lengthening procedure.

Zusammenfassung

Die simultane Verlängerung von Femur und Tibia kann wirksam and sicher erreicht werden. Es müssen jedoch folgende Gesichtspunkte im Auge behalten werden: 1. die sorgfältige Auswahl der Patienten ist ausschlaggebend; 2. die sorgfältige Beachtung aller operationstechnischen Details ist von entscheidender Bedeutung. Die Vorteile, die eine so anspruchsvolle Operation enthält, sind folgende: 1. verkürzte Morbidität, 2. eine Verringerung der Zahl der operatives Sitzungen (nicht der einzelnen operatives Maßnahmen), 3. die Erholung des Patienten erfolgt schneller, als wens die einzelnen Maßnahmen nacheinander ausgeführt worden wären. Diese Art der Behandlung sollte jedoch nur von jenen ausgeführt werden, die mit der operativen Beinverlängerung Erfahrung haben.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abbott LC, Crego CH (1928) Operative lengthening of the femur. South Med J 21:823

    Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson WV (1952) Leg lengthening (abstract). J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 34:150

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cauchoix J, Cortrel Y (1958) Les inegalites de longeur des membres inferieures, sequelles de la coxalgie de l'enfant. Rev Chir Orthop 44:24–56

    Google Scholar 

  4. Codivilla A (1905) On the means of lengthening in the lower limbs, the muscles and tissues which are shortened through deformity. Am J Orthop Surg 2:353–369

    Google Scholar 

  5. Coleman SS (1978) Lower limb length discrepancy. In: Lovell WW, Winter RB (eds) Pediatric orthopaedics, vol 2. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 805–880

    Google Scholar 

  6. D'Aubigne M, Dubousset J (1971) Surgical correction of large length discrepancies in the lower extremities of children and adults: an analysis of twenty consecutive cases. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 53:411–430

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kawamura B (1969) Leg lengthening: principles involved and the limiting factors. Proc 11th Congr Soc Internat de Chirurgie et de Traumatologie, Mexico City

  8. Wagner H (1978) Operative lengthening of the femur. Clin Orthop 136:125–142

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wagner H (1979) Lower limb lengthening. Pediatric Orthopaedic International Symposium, Chicago

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coleman, S.S. Simultaneous femoral and tibial lengthening for limb length discrepancies. Arch. Orth. Traum. Surg. 103, 359–366 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435441

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00435441

Keywords

Navigation